Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-02-20
HOW THE SHAH LlEVS
DETAILS OF THE LIFE OF THE KING OF
KINGS.

STATES MINISTER III fEhSlA.
The voice of the muezzin, a long, melO-
dious chant, is heard floating over the still
air of morning from the towers of Teheran.
At the same moment the suns burst over
the eastern plains and Furnishes the walls
of the capitol with n golden glow. On the
lofty turret of the palace gate a troop of
royal trumpeters halls the coming day,
while in the streets below rings the pie
beian horn which to the people
that the public baths are ready for the
daily ablution. At the same time the
camel bells are heard of caravans which,
after travelling all night, are now entering
the city.
A eunuch in stocking feet raises the
heavy drapery that closes the entrance to
the apartment where Nusr-ed-D Deem Shah
is sleeping, and, with bowed head, in a low
tone reminds his majesty that it is the hour
of PRAYER. A ''moontaced" maiden APP
prOaches, bearing a basin and ever of gold;
she pOurs scented water over the royal
hands, and another fair attendant, scantily
clad, like her companion, dries mis- hands
with a soft towel. Both kneel at this duty,
for the King is yet on his couch, which
is a mattress laid on the costly rugs that
cover the floor. Having accomplished the
additions, which form one of the essential
rites of Nussulman prayer, the Shah offers
his devotion on y superb prayer rug of
silk pointed towards Mecca. When 4
MahOmetan is on n journey he carries n
compass with him in order to find the di-
rectiOn of Mecca. The prayer is repeated
in a low tone with many genutlections, of
which the chief consists of repeatedly fall
ing flat on his face, rising to the knees and
then standing and passing both hands re-
verentialIy over the face.
His morning prayer over, the Shah
passes to Il steam bath partially subterra-
mean and containing several apartments.
The entire establishment is misty with
steam, and IL dim light pervades a nall
paved with marble. The walls are en-
crusted with glazed tiles arranged in ele-
CANT floral designs. The light Sits through
bulrs-eveS in the vaulted ceiling,
which Is supported by graceful pillars.
In separate alcOves are deep tanks filled
respectively with hot and cold water.
The attendants Of the king are
selected from the numerous lovely women,
whose charms qualify them alike rs hand
maidens and wives. 1t is needless to say
that under such circumstances the morn
ing bath of the Shah OF Persia possesses
attractions of u character as agreeable rs
they are unusual. The daily attention
given to these baths very likely explains
in part the marvellous physical endurance
of oriental sOvereigns, who retain their
powers for domestic duties and affairs of
state to old aye in climates which Euro
peans find cuervating and eXhausting.
After bathing the Shah partakes Of n
light meal of tea or coffee, with bread, and
perhaps fruits. Having thus arranged his
personal wants, Nusr-ed Deem Shah passes
into one of his numerous audience cham
hers and receives the ministers Of the royal
council or cabinet. 1t is composed Of the
sedr azem, or prime minister; the naib
sultauch, minister of war; the vizier har-
adie, or minister of foreign affairs; the
amin-e-sultan, minister of finance; the
mOhper-ed-dOuleh minister of mines and
telegraphs; the emin-cd-douleh, minister of
posts and administrator of the religious
funds; the sain'-cd dOuleh, minister OF
printing, ndseveral other high dignatarieS,
including the minister of arts and sciences,
who is also superintendent of the arsenal
and the head of the medical department,
called by the singular name OF hakeem-u,-
mamOlek, or physician of the empire. This
functionary is a Persian who graduated at
the medical college of Paris. He has for
his colleagues several other physicians, in
Guiding DIR. ThOloZan, q French praCti-
toner, who enjoys the confidence of the
Shah and reads to him the leading foreign
Journals. During n recent severe illness
the Shah called to his assistance DIR.
Cochraue, q talented American missionary
physician residing in Persia.
As it is yet early morning it is evident
that these ~dignitaries were obliged to rise
even earlier than the Shah i'll order to be
present at this morning audience. One by
one they raise the perdeh or massive M
broidered pOrtiere, and enter the presence
of the dread sovereign, who holds their
lives and fortunes in his fist, and is styled
the asylum of the universe and the king of
kings. The latter title at least is capable
of reasonable explanation. For in the
periods OF her former greatness q monarch
might well be considered king of kings, to
whom the kings of Armenia, of Egypt, of
Touran, of Lydia, of Georgia, of Afghanis-
tan, of India, and ut one time of ByZan-
tium paid tribute.
The ministers bow low on entering the
blessed presence they repeat the cere-
mony half way across the apartment and
again on arriving within easy speaking dis
lance of the Shah, where they stand in the
order of precedence with folded hands.
1t is the habit of the Shah TO 90 with some
miputeneSs INTO the details of administra-
ton. The present Shah does this, it is
said, more than some of his predecessors,
owing, probably, to the lack of
men of marked integrity and
ability to take charge of de-
partments. In former years it was also
the custom to bring criminals accused of
capital offences before the Shah, and the
condemned man was executed Immediately,
either in his presence or in an adjoining
court. But some years z Nusr-ed Deem
Shah practically abolished the custom of
ID iudicating criminal cases, and his morn
ing audiences are now rarely the scene OF
such painful incidents, although he has not
altogether abandoned the exercise of order
ing the execution of a criminal On rare oc-
casionS. On the journey to Mesched in
1884, the Shah commanded the instant de-
capitation of a murderer. These audiences
last several hours. His majesty from time
to time enjoys a cup of tea and n kalian or
waterpipe during the. session. After the
ministers retire the king devOteS the in
terval to private study or a mole careful
examination into the affairs of his admins
%tration, attended by some head of depart
ment from whom he desires more precise
information. This would be particularly
the case with the mOhper-ed-douleh, who
is at once minister of commerce and minis
ter of mines and telegraphs, in whom the
Shah reposes some confidence. The sanied
douleh. or minister of public printing, is
also n functiOnary who is often cloSeted
with the Shah, rs he is public censor and
mammal editor of the official journals. 1t
is said nothing goes into the these periodi-
calls without first passing under the eye of
the Shah. But as they appear only
monthly, and cover but four pages in large
TYNE the task of editing Is more apparent